October 29, 2021

C e l e b r a t i n g 2 7 Ye a r s o f Service in Inglewood, Airport area Communities

City of Champions Your Community Connection Since 1994

EYE ON THE CITY Rams

Chargers

Clippers

October 28 - November 3, 2021 VOL. 36, No. 43

Forum

& Lakers ‘ElectroPhonic Innovations’.. See Page 4

Inglewood vs Morningside Rivalry for All the Right Reasons It more than just a football game, it’s a unity thing

Inglewood star Louis Brown shrugs off a Leuzinger player in last week’s game for the Ocean League crown. Inglewood won 35-0 and will play Morningside on Friday on senior night at El Camino College. (Jevon Moore/Photo)

even take place this year.

When to the two schools do compete There has been significant debate on Friday Oct. 29 at El Camino as to whether the Morningside vs College in the final game of the Inglewood football rivalry should regular season it will be a mismatch

By Kenneth Miller, Publisher

of gigantic proportions. Inglewood score of 176-0. is ranked top 25 in the state and will The Sentinels have already captured bring an undefeated 8-0 record to the another Ocean League title under field, while Morningside is 2-7 and has Continued on page 8 been shut out five times by a combined

As Inglewood residents prepare to vote for Measures H & I, questions an`d concerns arise Measure H addresses Inglewood’s Transient Occupancy Tax. It would raise On November 2, Inglewood residents the hotel visitor tax from 14 percent to will head to the polls to answer two Yes15.5 percent. A 15.5 percent hotel tax No questions: Measure H and Measure rate is already in effect in neighboring I.

By Brea Mitchell, Staff Writer

cities such as Santa Monica, Culver City, Measure I would increase the city’s and Los Angeles. According to the city Property Transfer Tax on real estate of Inglewood, voting Yes for Measure transactions valued over $1.1 million.

H will generate an additional $730,000 Continued on page 7 annually towards essential city services.

Inglewood PD receives $245k grant IT News Wire

The Inglewood Police Department will roll out a police traffic services program to deter dangerous and illegal driving behaviors that increase the risk of crashes in the community.

“Impairment, speeding, and other

dangerous driving behaviors, jeopardize the safety of other people on the road,” Chief Mark Fronterotta said. “This funding allows us to provide necessary traffic enforcement measures, with the goal of reducing serious injury and fatal crashes, on our roads.”

The grant will pay for additional

enforcement measures, including: DUI checkpoints and patrols specifically focused on suspected impaired drivers.

Enforcement operations focused on suspected distracted drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.

Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operations focused on driver behaviors that put vulnerable road users at risk.

Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: Continued on page 7

JOIN US ON

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October 28 - November 3, 2021

Waters Fights for Inclusion of Robust Housing Investments in Build Back Better Act Alongside Affordable Housing Advocates and Groups Under Chairwoman Waters’ funds would: •Provide $80 billion to fully address leadership, Democratic Members Chairwoman Waters met with of the House Financial Services the backlog of public housing capital housing groups and advocates Committee passed the housing title repairs; organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and other interfaith groups, the Green New Deal Network, the National Coalition for the Homeless, and the National Housing Conference.

The National Housing Conference convened industry and advocacy groups for a press conference where the Chairwoman appeared with Senator Sherrod Brown, Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, to make clear that housing is infrastructure, and that she opposes deep cuts to housing investments.

The Chairwoman pledged to keep fighting to ensure the reconciliation package currently being considered by Congress includes the robust funding needed to address the nation’s affordable housing crisis.

“We are on pins and needles as we await some of the decisions being made at the White House,” Chairwoman Waters said at the National Housing Conference event.

“There are so many people who work every day, but they cannot afford the high cost of rental housing, and they are •Provide 750,000 housing vouchers, simply seeking some help from their of the Build Back Better Act on September 13, which includes $327 which would provide housing for an government.” billion in housing investments. These estimated 1.7 million people;

By Nichole Morgan, California Water Resources Control Board Member

PRESIDENT/ EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Willie Brown PUBLISHER Kenneth Miller VICE PRESIDENT Gloria Kennedy PRODUCTION Kenneth Denson QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER Gloria Kennedy Inglewood Today Weekly is a legally adjudicated newspaper of public cir­c ulation, published weekly

by Ads Up Advertising, Inc. News and press releases may be submitted for consideration by mail to 9111 La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 100, Inglewood, CA 90301 or by email to itnetworks@msn.com.

You can reach us at 310-670-9600 or by fax 310-338-9130 www.inglewoodtoday.com The artistic contents of Inglewood Today Weekly are copyrighted by Ads Up Advertising, Inc. and permission to reprint any article herein must be obtained in writing from the Publisher.

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•Create or rehabilitate three million affordable housing units; •Strengthen and expand fair housing enforcement; and

•Provide $10 billion in down payment assistance for first-time, firstgeneration homebuyers.

Black Leaders Slam Gov. Newsom for Vetoing “Major Civil Rights” Bill Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Supporters of a bill that would have increased diversity among civil service employees at all levels across California state government are blasting Gov. Newsom for vetoing the legislation.

Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) introduced the legislation, which would have required all state boards and commissions to have at least one member from an underrepresented community. Called the “Upward Mobility” bill, supporters say the legislation would have also opened up pathways to Blacks and other minorities for promotions, higher salaries and recruitment for state government jobs.

According to Holden, there is documented evidence that some state agencies -- the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), for example – have passed over Black and other minorities for promotions.

For Black Californians, Assembly Bill (AB) 105, was particularly critical and historic, supporters say.

“We were asking for more diversity in the HR department of our state, which

is the largest employer in California,” said Betty Williams, a well-known activist in Sacramento.

Williams, who is also a member of the African American Empowerment Community Council (AACEC), a coalition of Black leaders across the state, said she was especially taken aback by Newsom’s decision.

Governor Newsom was aware of how important AB 105 was to the AACEC, she explained, and they had urged him to sign it.

“Governor Newsom wins 83 % of the African American vote in the recall election, and he vetoes major civil rights legislation in the state right after, is disappointing,” she added.

Currently in California, nearly 64 % of all state government employees -including senior management positions -- are held by Whites, according to data from CalHR. Whites make up only 34 % of the state’s overall population of about 40 million people.

Supporters of the bill also explain that, for the first time in the history of the United States, there would have been a law that required state agencies to break down and record the numbers of Black Americans employed in

government who are direct descendants of enslaved people.

“I am very disappointed. Look at section six of the bill. We worked with the bill’s author to include language in AB 105 that would have disaggregated the Black or African American category and created a specific way for gathering information on Black folks who descended from U.S. Slavery and who experienced Jim Crow in the Deep South and elsewhere,” said Chris Lodgson, a Sacramento-based community organizer for the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC) and the American Redress Coalition of California (ARCC).

Lodgson and both organizations he represents have been at the forefront of the political effort in California to study the history of slavery and Anti-Black discrimination and seek reparation for Black descendants of enslaved people.

“Right now, the category of ‘Black or African American,’ means – and this is from the legal definition the state uses – anybody with origin in the Black racial groups of Africa. That doesn’t Continued on page 8

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October 28 - November 3, 2021

EYE ON THE CITY AROUND THE CITY A Message from County Administrator Dr. Erika Torres GEORGE DOTSON

Dear Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) Students, Staff and Families, When we made the difficult decision to close our schools in March of 2020 and transition to remote instruction, we did not know how long the COVID-19 global pandemic would last. We hoped we could find a way to bring everyone back safely and keep our school campuses classrooms, lunch areas and play areas open to our students. Testing and vaccination made that possible and continue to be a key component to keeping our campuses open and safe.

COVID-19 is still a current concern within our community. The demands of running our schools are much more complicated as we have implemented screening, testing operations, and

ALEX PADILLA

JAMES BUTTS

vaccination opportunities, while maintaining efforts to provide efficient instruction and connect students with educational resources. It has been challenging for all of us and I appreciate everything you have done to support our school community and each other.

As a District where health and safety are our top priority, we implement Health and Safety measures, requirements, and laws that would contribute to our efforts.

We understand that there have been some concerns about Governor Newsom’s October 1st proposed mandate, which would require students attending in-person instruction to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

However, we do not support the intentional disruption of instruction on October 18th being proposed over

ELOY MORALES

DIONNE FAULK

social media. Regardless of the causes or viewpoints at •Our employees report to work on October 18th to perform their job duties and responsibilities during scheduled work hours to support our students.

•Our students attend school on October 18th. Keeping children home from school to protest the proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate would only result in lost learning time for students.

The COVID-19 vaccination mandate for student is not yet in effect but has an anticipated start date of January 1, 2022 or July 1, 2022, which must first have full FDA approval. The California Department of Pubic Health will initiate the rulemaking process and write regulations that will address requirements such as the process

and scope of medical and personal exemptions.

We will continue to openly communicate with you regarding inperson instruction and the impact of COVID-19. We want all of our students in the classroom, and we want everyone to feel safe and supported.

This pandemic has taught us that we are most effective in fulfilling that mission when we work together. Thank you for your support as we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our students and school community. #WeAreInglewoodUnified Sincerely, Erika F. Torres, Ed.D., MSW County Administrator

More Black Californians Taking COVID Shot as U.S. Reviews Vaccines for Younger Kids

Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

Black Californians have joined Black Americans around the country in closing the COVID-19 vaccine equity gap.

As of Oct. 11, Black Californians were 4.2% of Californians that have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, up from 2.7% in February, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). 5.7% of the state’s population of nearly 40 million people are Black.

“Through our investments in targeted outreach and robust community-based partnerships, our work continues to reach the hardest-hit communities.

Vaccines are how we end this pandemic – I encourage all eligible Californians to visit MyTurn.ca.gov to schedule an appointment for their first dose or find a booster shot to keep themselves and their community healthy,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vaccine equity gap is narrowing across the United States as about 11% of the people who have received at least one dose of the vaccine are Black Americans, a group that makes up 12.4% of the U.S. population.

U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, spoke with California Black Media last week about the importance of equity in the nation’s pandemic response.

“The way we define success with the vaccination effort isn’t just how many people got vaccinated, but how equitably and fairly we get the vaccine to people across our country,” Murthy said.

“We know that there are communities in our country that have been long underserved by the healthcare system and the victims of structural inequities and structural racism that have prevented them from getting the care that they need,” he continued.

Murthy spoke about some of the equity challenges leaders faced at

the beginning of the pandemic. The last year and created the Western States have received the Moderna or Johnson approach the feds took to address some Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. & Johnson vaccine prior. of those difficulties was similar to The group, made up of scientists, “Recipients of the Moderna vaccine California’s strategy. medical professionals and public health may receive a booster shot six months “Early on in the vaccination effort, experts, is charged with reviewing after completing their primary we saw those disparities developing COVID-19 vaccine safety. vaccination series, and recipients of in the adult population with Black Last week, the workgroup the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may communities and Latino communities recommended booster shots for receive a booster shot two months after having lower vaccination rates than vulnerable people and those who live receiving their first dose,” the governor’s White communities,” Murthy said. or work in high-risk settings – if they office said in a statement last week.

“But the good news is there has been a lot of effort over the last many months, which included a lot of outreach and partnerships with communities of color, with leaders and organizations in those communities, working hard to make sure we had mobile units out getting When: Saturday, November 6, 2021 to communities to bring vaccines to where people are and getting 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM* or until trucks reach capacity vaccines directly to community Where: On Grevillea Avenue off Manchester Blvd. health centers where we know a (in front of Inglewood High School) lot of folks get their care. All of these efforts together, along with NO-CONTACT DRIVE THROUGH DROP OFF making sure the vaccines are free and making sure as many doctors To comply with mandatory county regulations, as possible have the vaccine in their this will be a no-contact event. Shredding material offices, has helped us close a lot of must be placed in rear of vehicle for removal. that equity gap,” Murthy continued.

Even as vaccination booster shots are becoming more readily available Document shredding is limited to around the country, the COVID-19 Inglewood residents only.

Delta variant remains a significant ID is required. threat in the U.S. and around the world. So, public health leaders are focused on expanding efforts get as No more than three (3) boxes or bags of shredding many people as possible access to material per vehicle. vaccinations and booster shots.

This event is on a first-come-first-served basis “California is leading the nation in vaccinations, with 52 million *Event will conclude once all shredding trucks reach administered and 86 % of the capacity. eligible population having received at least one dose – today’s Western For more information, please contact the City States Scientific Safety Review of Inglewood Public Works Department at Workgroup recommendation on booster shots will help keep the (310) 412-5333. momentum going as we enter the winter months,” Newsom said last week.

California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington state came together

FREE Document Shredding Event!!!

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October 28 - November 3, 2021

Area Communities S e r v i n g L a d e r a , H a w t h o r n e , W e s t c h e s t e r, L a w n d a l e , G a r d e n a , C a r s o n

‘ElectroPhonic Innovations’ is revolutionizing the electric guitar in Inglewood & worldwide

By Brea Mitchell, Staff Writer

It all began as a dream. Literally, while ElectroPhonic Innovations cofounder Joe Floyd laid asleep one night many years ago, he dreamt of an electric guitar that needed no amp or effects pedals, yet sounded loud and crisply traveled through a room.

And this guitar has since been brought to life by the team at ElectroPhonic Innovations.

In layman’s terms, there are speakers inside of the ElectroPhonic guitars. The once seemingly impossible creation of an electric guitar with its own built-in amp and effects is manufactured here in Inglewood, led by Joe Floyd, Jan Lucas, and Andrew Bloch.

Word has quickly spread among musicians and music fanatics all around the world about ElectroPhonic guitars, and their innovative technology, which are meticulously built in a low-key, unmarked Inglewood manufacturing facility. This tight-knit crew, and their staff, are changing the game; so much so that they’ve accumulated a substantial backlog of online orders, flowing in domestically and internationally.

This year, they outgrew their previous space, which was also in Inglewood near Florence Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard. They’re now settled into a much larger location on Centinela Avenue, a former flooring shop. But their new manufacturing home was a project in itself. In

January, when the team came across the location, the long-time vacant building had ceiling holes dripping with water, buckling floors; dusty and dirty was an understatement. But the guys have an eye for potential charm.

They’ve transformed the space into exactly what they need it to be, and

United Way hosts upcoming community walk/run event at SoFi Stadium, ‘WalkUnitedLA’

By Brea Mitchell, Staff Writer

A 5k family walk/run event is in order at SoFi Stadium for Saturday, November 6, the day before the LA Rams host the Tennessee Titans.

United Way, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country, has organized the WalkUnitedLA event in an effort to break cycles of poverty in the Greater Los Angeles area.

WalkUnitedLA participants will raise funds and awareness to end homelessness; provide equitable and quality education to all students; and ensure greater economic mobility and increased access to opportunities for working families and individuals.

Registration for the event will open Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. and live entertainment with yoga, stretching, and a warm-up led by LA Rams cheerleaders will go until 8:30 a.m.

The run will begin at 8:45 a.m., and walking participants will begin at 9:00 a.m.

“Together, we will WalkUnited to help those hit hardest by the pandemic,” said Elise Buik, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “In HomeWalk’s evolution to WalkUnitedLA, we recognize that homelessness cannot be solved in a vacuum and the root causes of poverty are undeniably linked. Without efforts to improve our systems of education, employment and housing, along with the solutions to end homelessness, people will continue to fall into homelessness at a pace our region cannot keep up with. We invite individuals, families, community organizations and businesses to walk or run with us on November 6 to support our most vulnerable neighbors and communities hit hardest by the pandemic.”

it only took six months to do it.

Upon walking in, there’s a lounging area and a space for musicians to jam, or the “R&D” space, as they call it, where the team looks forward to eventually hosting community events. Towards the back of the property, walking past office spaces, you’ll eventually land in the large, openair wood shop where the guitar construction takes place, which consists of four major steps: wood carving by a computercontrolled machine, handsculpting, paint, and final assembly.

Recently, comedian Conan O’Brien, an avid guitar player, made an impromptu visit to the shop. A mutual acquaintance gave O’Brien an ElectroPhonic guitar about a year ago, but until last week, the comedian’s

assessment was a mystery. “We didn’t hear from him, so we just thought he didn’t like it,” said Andrew Bloch. That assumption was proven wrong when Conan O’Brien unexpectedly showed up to place an order for another.

The brand is appealing to music enthusiasts of all levels and skillsets. There’s an obvious benefit of convenience when it comes to an electric guitar that needs no cables or amp equipment, but what ElectroPhonic Innovations is also doing is expanding the accessibility of high-quality instruments.

“We’ve increased the portability, much like an acoustic guitar,” says Julian Bloch, “and the barrier to entry is much lower. If you started a 10-yearold on a guitar and had to buy them an amp and effects, it would typically be more than the ElectroPhonic would cost.”

ElectroPhonic has patented their technology, and while replicas from other competitors in the near future wouldn’t surprise them, they’re proud to be the first to get it right.

As of now, ElectroPhonic Innovations offers two guitar models, “Model One” and the “Guitarmadillo”, both with a range of different colors and styles. But the Inglewood brand is just getting started. There’s even more on the horizon for the upcoming Spring season. Stay tuned, Inglewood.

Have a suggestion for the ‘Community Chest’ column? Tell us who’s uplifting our community!

Inglewood Today’s ‘Community Chest’ column is a weekly space dedicated to highlighting and recognizing those in our community who are making a positive impact. From residents’ acts of kindness, to small business owners, activists, organization leaders, community volunteers, scholars, and more, we want to hear about all of the great people in our neighborhoods who are making a difference. Contact our column writer, Brea Mitchell, to suggest or pitch a story for our Community Chest.

Contact: Brea Mitchell bmitchell@inglewoodtoday.com

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October 28 - November 3, 2021

Sports & Entertainment How Did Florida St. Shape Derwin James and Asante Samuel Jr.?

Asante Samuel Jr. said of veteran year’s draft.

Though they never played together “He’s been in my ear. He always safety Derwin James after Samuel Jr. was selected by the Los Angeles at Florida St., they’re living out that wanted to play with me.”

That’s what rookie cornerback Chargers in the second round of this goal on Sundays with the Bolts.

By Hayley Elwood,Team Reporter

Dont’e Deayon discusses being promoted to the 53-man roster, How his 2021 season is going & more on Rams Revealed

By J.B. Long, Voice of Rams

On a roster full of strong characters, cornerback Dont’e Deayon might be the biggest personality of them all.

Now he’s getting his biggest NFL opportunity.

The 27-year old has played more than 60 snaps in each of the Rams last two wins, at New York and versus Detroit. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s graded out quite well, with a 2021 coverage grade of 74.8 to this juncture – good for 20th among his peers (minimum 75 coverage snaps).

As for how he evaluates his own performance?

“Pretty decent so far,” Deayon told us on the latest Rams Revealed podcast. “You know, just getting out there, being able to fly around and really showcase my talents in a game setting now, versus it being preseason or practice. Like you said, I feel like this is my biggest opportunity, and I’m really excited for it and just ready to make the most of it.”

The Rialto, CA native thrived at Boise State and entered the league with the Giants as an undrafted free agent. He saw limited action as a call-up during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns before the Rams had the opportunity to sign him to their practice squad just before

their run to the NFC Championship.

With both organizations, Deayon has been repeatedly waived, re-signed, promoted and released. But with Darious Williams on injured reserve for a span of three games, Deayon is getting the most consistent work of his professional career, and he’d like to stick around for more than just another week.

“I want nothing else,” he said with an infectious laugh that’s always at the ready. “Going through that process… of being waived those times after preseason… now we’re in the regular season, like, it’s go time. Either you’re contributing to a team winning a Super Bowl or you’re not. And that’s my goal is to do whatever I can to help this team – contribute to make it to the playoffs and win a Super Bowl.”

Also in this episode, we discuss his roots in the Inland Empire, the Good Eatz cause that’s close to his heart, and his Hard Knocks stardom.

Rams Revealed with Dont’e Deayon is available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube each week.

I got a chance to sit down with the duo to dig a little deeper into the impact their college – aka “DBU” – has had on the pro careers.

Why is Florida St. so good at producing DBs? “Just the swag from back in the day.

It started with Terrell Buckley, Deion Sanders, and those guys. Guys like myself, Jalen Ramsey, Zont (Samuel Jr.), we just wanted to carry on that tradition. Everybody knows Florida St. produces the best DBs.” - Derwin James\ Camera On: Derwin James and Asante Samuel Jr. on Florida State and the Family Atmosphere in DB Room What have they taken from Florida St. to the NFL? “We had great guys there, so just being able to compete every day with top talent and great coaches. Bringing it to the next level and really translating it to the next level.” - Asante Samuel Jr.

Following Your Dreams in LA, Why Not? An LA mural, by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. Commissioned by the Lakers x bibigo

By Lakers.com

On a roster full of strong characters, cornerback Dont’e Deayon might be the biggest personality of them all.

Now he’s getting his biggest NFL opportunity.

The 27-year old has played more than 60 snaps in each of the Rams last two wins, at New York and versus Detroit.

According to Pro Football Focus, he’s graded out quite well, with a 2021 coverage grade of 74.8 to this juncture – good for 20th among his peers (minimum 75 coverage snaps).

As for how he evaluates his own performance?

“Pretty decent so far,” Deayon told us on the latest Rams Revealed podcast.

“You know, just getting out there, being able to fly around and really showcase my talents in a game setting now, versus it being preseason or practice. Like you said, I feel like this is my biggest opportunity, and I’m really excited for it and just ready to make the most of it.”

The Rialto, CA native thrived at Boise State and entered the league with the Giants as an undrafted free agent. He

saw limited action as a call-up during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns before the Rams had the opportunity to sign him to their practice squad just before their run to the NFC Championship.

With both o rg a n i z a t i o n s , Deayon has been repeatedly waived, resigned, promoted and released. But with Darious Williams on injured reserve for a span of three games, Deayon is getting the most consistent work of his professional career, and he’d like to stick around for more than just another week.

“I want nothing else,” he said with an infectious laugh that’s always at the ready. “Going through that process… of being waived those times after preseason… now we’re in the regular season, like, it’s go time. Either you’re contributing to a team winning a Super Bowl or you’re not. And that’s my goal is to do whatever I can to help this team – contribute to make it to the playoffs and win a Super Bowl.”

Also in this episode, we discuss his roots in the Inland Empire, the Good Eatz cause that’s close to his heart, and his Hard Knocks stardom.

Rams Revealed with Dont’e Deayon is available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube each week.

Page 6

October 28 - November 3, 2021

BUPPIE | BUSINESS

Reparations: How “Intentional” Gov’t Policy Denied Blacks Access to Wealth Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

When the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, the Black community owned less than 1% of the United States’ total wealth, the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans was told during its fourth meeting.

Mehrsa Baradaran, a professor at the University of California Irvine, School of Law, shared the statistics during the “Racism in Banking, Tax, and Labor” portion of the two-day meeting on Oct.13.

From her perspective, the power of wealth and personal income is still unequally distributed. And that inequality, in her view, has always been allowed, preserved and compounded by laws and government policy.

“More than 150 years later, that number has barely budged,” Baradaran told the Task Force, tracing the wealth gap from the period after the Civil War when President Lincoln granted formerly enslaved Blacks their freedom to the present day.

“The gap between average White wealth and Black wealth has actually increased over the last decades. Today, across every social-economic level, Black families have a fraction of the wealth that White families have,” she said.

Baradaran has written a range of entries and books about banking law, financial inclusion, inequality, and the racial wealth gap. Her scholarship includes the books “How the Other Half Banks” and “The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap,” both published by the Harvard University Press.

Baradaran has also published several articles on race and economics, including “Jim Crow Credit” in the Irvine Law Review, “Regulation by Hypothetical” in the Vanderbilt Law Review, and “How the Poor Got Cut Out of Banking” in the Emory Law Journal.

A 43-year-old immigrant born in Orumieh, Iran, Baradaran, testified that

her work on the wealth gap in America was conducted from a “research angle” and she respectfully “submitted” her testimony “in that light,” she said.

In her research, Baradaran explained that she discovered an intentional system of financial oppression.

“This wealth chasm doesn’t abate with income or with education. In other words, this is a wealth gap that is pretty much tied to a history of exclusion and exploitation and not to be remedied by higher education and higher income,” Baradaran said.

According to a January 2020 report, the Public Policy Institute of California said African American and Latino families make up 12% of those with incomes above the 90th percentile in the state, despite comprising 43% of all families in California.

In addition, PPIC reported that such disparities mirror the fact that African American and Latino adults are overrepresented in low-wage jobs and have higher unemployment rates, and African American adults are less likely to be in the labor force.

Many issues support these activities that range from disparities around education, local job opportunities, and incarceration to discrimination in the labor market, according to PPIC. “While California’s economy outperforms the nation’s, its level of income inequality exceeds that of all but five states,” the report stated.

“Without target policies, it will continue to grow,” Baradaran said of the wealth gap. “And I want to be clear of how this wealth gap will continue to grow. It was created, maintained, and perpetuated through public policy at the federal, state, and local levels. Black men and women have been shut out of most avenues of middle-class creations.

Black homes, farms, and savings were not given the full protection of the law. Especially as these properties were subjected to racial terrorism.

The American middle-class was not

Vote on Measures

created that way (to support Black communities).”

A June 2018 working paper from the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute written by economists familiar with moderate-to-weak Black wealth backs up Baradaran’s assessment.

Published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, the authors of the report wrote that strategies to deny Blacks access to wealth started at the beginning of the Reconstruction era, picked up around the civil rights movement, and resurfaced around the financial crisis of the late 2000s.

Authored by Moritz Kuhn, Moritz Schularick, and Ulrike I. Steins, the “Income and Wealth Inequality in America, 1949-2016” explains a close analysis of racial inequality, pre-and post-civil rights eras.

The economists wrote that the median Black household has less than 11% of the wealth of the median White household, which is about $15,000 versus $140,000 in 2016 prices.

“The overall summary is bleak,” the report states. “The historical data also reveal that no progress has been made in reducing income and wealth inequalities between black and white households over the past 70 years.”

Baradaran recently participated in the virtual symposium, “Racism and the Economy: Focus on the Wealth Divide” hosted by 12 District Banks of the Federal Reserve System, which includes the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

There are some positives that are not typically included in discussions about the challenges Blacks have experience historically in efforts to obtain wealth, Baradaran said. Many African Americans, specifically in California, were able to subvert the systems that discriminated against them.

“Black institutions have been creative and innovative serving their communities in a hostile climate,” Baradaran said.

“I’ve written a book about the long

history of entrepreneurship, self-help, and mutual uplift. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have provided stellar education and Black banks have supported Black businesses, churches, and families.”

California’s Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, titled “The Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans,” created a ninemember commission to investigate inequity in education, labor, wealth, housing, tax, and environmental justice.

All of these areas were covered with expert testimony during the two-day meeting held on Oct. 12 and Oct. 13.

The task force is charged with exploring California’s involvement in slavery, segregation, and the historic denial of Black citizens’ constitutional rights.

Fifty years after the federal Fair Housing Act eliminated racial discrimination in lending, the Black community continues to be denied mortgage loans at rates much higher than their White counterparts.

“Banks and corporations have engaged in lending and hiring practices that helped to solidify patterns of racial inequality,” Jacqueline Jones, a history professor from the University of Texas told the Task Force.

The Racism in Banking, Tax and Labor segment also featured testimonies

by Williams Spriggs (former chair of the Department of Economics at Howard University. Spriggs now serves as chief economist to the AFL-CIO), Thomas Craemer (public policy professor at the University of Connecticut), and Lawrence Lucas (U.S. Department of Agriculture Coalition of Minority Employees).

The Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans will conduct its fifth and final meeting of 2021 on Dec. 6 and Dec.7.

HI &

Return your mail ballot on or before November 2, 2021 for more information visit inglewoodnow.org

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October 28 - November 3, 2021

Continued from page 6: Reparations: ...

According to Inglewood officials, voting Yes on this measure would ensure that large developers pay their fair share towards Inglewood’s development.

Measure I would only apply to the top 2 percent of real estate transactions in Inglewood, and would generate $3.5 million annually towards essential city services.

Last week, Inglewood constituents gathered at Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen with Mayor James T. Butts as he urged residents to vote Yes for both Measure H and Measure I on their upcoming November ballot. And while nearly everyone at the gathering was on board with a Yes for Measure H, the mayor was met with apprehension and backlash when it came to Measure I, the property transfer tax.

As Mayor Butts spoke on a microphone in the back of the closed-for-event coffee shop to a crowd of about 20 constituents, he first reminded them that the entire council has already voted Yes for the H and I Measures. “But that doesn’t really mean anything,” said Mayor Butts, adding, “what matters is, what’s good for you, what’s good for your children, and what’s good for Inglewood has to make sense.”

He proceeded to point out that nearly no one lives in the same home that they lived in when they were a child. “You aspired to greater things, and then you were willing to spend the money to live a different quality of life. That’s the same comparison to what happens with these two measures. What the city is doing is preparing itself to have a sustainable future,” said Butts.

The mayor reiterated that the increased property transfer fee would only affect properties selling for more than $1.1 million, meaning mainly commercial properties, apartment buildings and a select few number of houses in Inglewood. “We have investors coming in and buying property like nobody’s business. And that money should be collected, because the city is going to have to provide the services to support all of this growth,” said Mayor Butts.

But to those at the community meeting who expressed their concerns that they are at risk of being affected by the increased transfer property tax when they one day potentially want to sell their homes, the solution that Mayor Butts offered was, “If you get to the point where your house sells for $1.2 million, and the $800,000 you made in profit isn’t enough, then you just put it into the escrow instructions that the buyer will pay the increase in that real estate transfer fee, and that’s about as simple as it can get.”

Additionally, constituents are uneasy about the fact that the money from these fees, which Mayor Butts and other city officials claim will go toward “essential city services”, will be placed into the city’s general fund. One constituent at the community meeting spoke with Inglewood Today afterwards, expressing her concern about the broad term of a

“general fund”, and how she’d like to see more transparency about what exactly the money from the property transfer tax is going towards.

“They can use the money for whatever they want. If they want this money to go specifically for infrastructure, or specifically for tree maintenance, then it should go into a special fund. Then they can only use the money for that.

But when it goes into a general fund, they can use it for whatever they want.

So that’s why I’m encouraging people to vote No. And it’s not that you don’t want to pay taxes, you do. You know you have to pay taxes. But make it specific for what you want it for,” she said, adding, “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want to pay your attorney fees, and I don’t want to give you a raise,” she said, referring to Mayor Butts and other city officials.

Continued from page 1: Inglewood PD ...

speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.

Community education presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, DUI, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.

Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

The grant program will run through September 2022.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

MEDIA NOTES: To schedule an interview regarding the Inglewood Police Department Traffic Safety Operations, please contact Sergeant Jeff LaGreek.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2021210059 The following Person is doing business as: Hazel Eye Creative 2509 W. 80th Street Inglewood, CA 90305 Registered Owner(s): Inglewood, CA 90305

Eron Muckleroy, 2509 W. 80th Street,

This business is conducted by an individual(s). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on September 21, 2021.

I (We) declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

(A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.)

Eron Muckleroy, Owner.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk on September 21, 2021.

NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration.

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State or common law (See Section 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.)

Original October 7, 14 21; November 4, 2021 IT0042230120020171 Inglewood Today

RFB-0145 CITY OF INGLEWOOD INVITATION TO SUBMIT BID (Specifications and Conditions Governing Award)

The City of Inglewood invites and will receive bids duly filed as provided herein for the furnishing of qualified “STAGE AND EQUIPMENT FOR SUPER BOWL CONCERT SERIES”as specified in this document.

Each bid shall be submitted and completed in all particulars and must be enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed to the City of Inglewood, The Office of the City Clerk, 1 W. Manchester Blvd., First Floor, Inglewood, CA 90301 with the designation of the project “ STAGE AND EQUIPMENT FOR SUPER BOWL CONCERT SERIES” appearing thereon.

Bids will be opened in public, on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at 11:30 A.M. in the Office of the City Clerk, and will be announced then and there to all persons present.

Specifications and other bid documents for the above service are on the City’s PlanetBids portal.

The City Council reserves the right to waive any irregularity in any bid and to take bids under advisement for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days from and after the date bids are opened and announced.

The following conditions and terms apply: 1) The City Council reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

2) Attached are detailed specifications and conditions for bid submission.

3) You must execute your contract within ten (10) days after the City mails it. If the contract is not executed within ten (10) days, the City reserves the unilateral right to cancel it.

4) If any provision of the contract is violated, the City, after suitable notice, may cancel the contract and make arrangements to have the products and or services supplied by others. Any extra cost to the City will be paid by the contractor.

5) Bid may be obtained from the Purchasing and Contracts Services Division located on the 8th floor of City Hall, or call (310) 412-5266.

6) All bids must be for specific amounts. Any attempt to qualify prices with an ‘escalation clause’ or any other method of making a price variable, is unacceptable. Bids shall be valid for sixty (60) calendar days from and after the date bids are opened and announced.

7) The City reserves the right to add or subtract quantities and/or services based on the unit prices/unit lump sums so indicated as its budgetary needs may require.

8) Bid documents can be located on the City of Inglewood’s Planet Bids Portal. https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=45619 ___________________________________________ _ Date: ______________________ Louis Atwell, Assista City Manager

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October 28 - November 3, 2021

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brilliant head coach Mil’Von James and is expected to compete for a CIF Southern Section championship when it’s all said and done.

However, if you only focus on the game itself than you totally miss the bigger picture.

“I’ve had seven students whose parents went to Morningside and one them didn’t even want their son to play for Inglewood,” James told Inglewood Today during the week of the rivalry.

“It’s a city rivalry. Inglewood is over 100 years old and Morningside is over 50 and this is the game that unites the two schools. It’s what unites all of us.

It’s an honor to play this game.”

James added that the fact that it hasn’t been played in more than a year because of COVID-19 restrictions has added to the anticipation.

Morningside head coach Brian Collins agrees with James about the significance of the history of the rivalry.

“It’s a great tradition. The kids have grew up together through elementary and middle school. Inglewood is riding high and we are rebuilding our program, but this is a good situation for us and it’s a good event for the City of Inglewood, said Collins.

The Monarchs couldn’t beat a Compton Centennial team that only dressed 13 players last week and Inglewood boast a squad that is loaded with Division I College football talent.

“People like to talk about the players that are signed and going to D-I

Continued from page 2: Black Leaders...

programs, but we would not be where we are without players such as Charles Deloach, a defensive end whose tough or Chris Nelson, a physical freak or Saadite Green, Kaylin Bryce and Tyler Green who day in and day out dominate,” added James.

Last week was senior night for Morningside where their seniors Adraian Vasquez-Romero, Korie Dixon, Jaion Dunn, Damien Scruggs, Ricardo Espinoza, Hector Rodas, Silvo Garcia, Joseph Hamilton Mekhi Metoyer, Nick Watson, Jordan Faison and Tauakitangata Baker were escorted onto the field at El Camino College at halftime.

This week will be Inglewood’s turn for the honor, but the rilvary will make it all the more special.

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specifically describe me -- whose family comes from slavery in the American South. That definition makes Black descendants of enslaved people invisible in the data. This bill would have changed that.”

Like Lodgson and Williams, other Black leaders in the state say they were surprised and let down by the governor’s decision.

“Please stop coming into our house asking for bread pudding and then when you get it, you don’t speak to us, or speak to our concerns, when you don’t need us anymore,” said Cynthia Adams, an education and civil rights advocate in Oakland. “This has to stop.”

Adams said government should not just include people who have the right skills set.

“It should level the playing field and reflect, as well as protect, diversity.

This is achieved by recruiting and promoting qualified people who look like the racial, ethnic and cultural makeup of people in the state.”

Newsom said he “returned” AB 105 without his signature, because the bill may have had “unintended consequences.”

“While the goals of AB 105 are laudable, elements of the bill conflict with existing constitutional requirements, labor agreements, and current data collection efforts,” the governor said in statement after vetoing the bill. “Furthermore, as AB 105 would cost tens of millions of dollars,

these one-time and significant ongoing costs should be considered through the annual state budget process.”

Responding to the governor, supporters say funding for the bill would have come out of the $42 billion dollar state budget surplus, so cost is not a factor. Lodgson also pointed out that the Office of Legislative Counsel reviewed the bill and found no legal or administrative conflicts.

AB 105 defined the term “board member or commissioner from an underrepresented community” as an individual who self-identifies as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Military veterans with a disability were also included in the definition.

Lodgson says, although the governor vetoed the AB 105, he is still “encouraged” because both the State Senate Assembly and Senate passed the legislation with “solid” two-third majorities.

There was also widespread support among Californians, he says.

“The governor’s veto message encouraged the bill’s author to work with his team to work through some of the issues during the budget process in January 2022,” said Lodgson. “So, he opened the door for the things in the bill that we are specifically concerned about to possibly be added as early as the first few months of 2022.”